RedBlueThoughts

I started blogging two years ago, with my maiden site http://redbluethoughts.today.com/. Like everybody else, it was a personal blog. It then blossomed into a socio-political commentary. I blog every so often; then this turned into a passion, then an obsession. The “tipping point” so to speak, was when Philippine Star columnist Carmen Pedrosa picked up one of my entries (it’s about Soros) and got it published in its entirety in her column. It dawned on me that blogging is a serious activity; a tool to at least do my share in nation-building. Some other entries found their way in Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin and even foreign newspapers. Right now, this site is also making its rounds in coffee shops, OFW centers and of course, in that dark room called Kalayaan Hall.

Thus, New Philippine Revolution was born. NPR was my Sierra Madre, my Olympus, the apex of things I consider very important–the formation of the Filipino Nation. Thru this site, one is enabling people to empower themselves, not thru arms but through the lethal strength and power of Ideas.

Yes, NPR stands for new ideas. It stands for change and recommends new ideas to build this Nation and regain its former glory. Its ideals are being shared by a lot of Patricios; a brand name; a monopoly that is taking some root in the consciousness of regular commenters over at ANC Teleradyo. A lot of Patricios are springing in other places left and right. From the hinderlands of Ilocos to the breakwaters of Davao, people are becoming Patricios. And they are taking it seriously and raising their voices in newspapers and television shows. Credit goes to these new change agents who are creating history in their own backyards.

That prompted me, a writer named Patricio Mangubat, to expose myself in some blogger activity. Janet Toralba, that bundle of boundless energy, invited me to the 2008 MOst Influential Blog. I met Marck Rimorin (http://www.marocharimexperiment.com/) and Arbet (http://www.awbholdings.com/ ). Talking with Marck convinced me that there are still young minds out there who are concerned about what’s happening to their country.

This led to my meeting Juned Sunido of baratillo.net, then Jen, then Flow, then JV Fernandez, then Markku Fernandez, then the other bloggers in this little planet called Pinoy Blogosphere. It was a delight meeting the Jester-in-Exile, a brilliant kid with a rock-solid nationalism. Talking with the Jester makes me all the more optimistic that things will become better in due time.

Jester and Marck are two wonderful young ones whose legacy online will be lasting way up to old age. I also admired the entrepreneurial nationalism of Jon Linjap, the wit of Cocoy, the sexy words of Caffeine Sparks and the in-your-face kind of blogging by Pau (a new blogger). It was also refreshing to discuss things with DJB.

I was surprised to even meet my former DZBB boss, Ding Gagelonia of http://midfield.wordpress.com/. It turned out that he was reading my pieces over here and at http://www.filipinovoices.com/ and he was unaware that his former protege was the guy behind PM. That started a relationship, a journey of partnership to rediscover life (we’re not lovers, okey?). Ding is a passionate guy. Initially, I was asking myself what was Ding’s personal “tipping point”. I know Ding to be a MSM insider; what prompted this guy with a humongous intelligence to spend his time blogging and plurking? Why he so suddenly turned into a nationalist? Was it because he saw how dirty the system was when he worked for Erap as his Radyo Ng Bayan station manager? Was it when he saw those midnight meals, those high-stakes gambling being done in a supposed to be hallowed place called Malacanang? Or, was it because he’s seeing filth turning into an institutionalized sticker under this present regime? Who knows. What’s important, Ding is one sonafabitch (pardon my French) who will risk life and limb just to see a brighter and better future not only for his kids but for everybody’s sake.

But, the one thing which Ding likes to share with me is his passion to make Smokes (Rom to many and blogs at http://smoketalk.blogspot.com/) appear. For Ding, Marck and Jester, seeing Rom in the flesh is a wonderful xmas gift.

So, the online revolution is reaping its fruits. People are slowly rising up. People are arming themselves with knowledge. Filipinos are proving to the world that we are not the people being described by this blogger calling himself BenigNo.

BenigNo is a poor anthithesis of Manolo Quezon III (http://www.quezon.com/) , a true-blue nationalist with royal blood running thru his veins. BenigNo promotes himself and lectures us with a poorly constructed paradigm that harms the intellect more than it nurtures new ideas. Manolo, meanwhile, analyzes using newer paradigms that cuts across a swath of smoking mirrors to reveal the hidden and naked reasons behind every historical action. As a historiographer myself, I relate to what Manolo is trying to say and find it juvenile to even give BenigNo a precious attention. Those who self-promote themselves obviously lack intelligence and self-confidence.

Having said that, I found it rather revolting to learn that some bloggers (I would not mention names here since I exercise ethics in this site) are selling themselves to the highest bidder. Yes, they are selling their very souls to corporate Public Relations practitioners (and Malacanang press operators). Worst, some blogger even sold their own colleagues to these reputation agents for reportedly a huge fee. A list supposedly exist, with the names of political and non-political bloggers and given to a politico who reportedly paid this blogger a huge sum.

Everybody who considers himself a member of the Pinoy blogosphere expected this to happen. Like any other field, there will be rotten ones who would corrupt and would offer the poisoned fruit. But, no one, expected it to happen so soon. People like Butch Dado and his lovely wife Noemi, Dang, Janet, JV and all others are trying their darnest best to keep the Pinoy Blogosphere clean as a whistle but this stupid ingrate tried to spoil everything.

YOU–YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID–SHAME ON YOU! Shame that you sold your very soul to the highest bidder. Shame that you even sold your friends, telling politicos and marketing managers that you own them when you know in your heart that you don’t own anyone. Bloggers are not commodities. We are not for sale!

To my fellow bloggers, hear my plea—MAKE THE PHILIPPINE BLOGOSPHERE CLEAN. DON’T ALLOW THIS HALLOWED PLACE OF FREE EXPRESSION BE CORRUPTED BY CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS, POLITICAL OPERATORS AND WHAT HAVE YOU. WE MUST POLICE OUR RANKS. WE MUST STAY CLEAR OF PEOPLE WHO USE US JUST TO PROMOTE A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, DEFEND A DIRTY POLITICIAN OR DESTROY REPUTATIONS.

BLOGGERS ARE PURE SOULS. BLOGGING IS SACRED. BLOGGING IS THE TRUEST EXPRESSION OF THE SELF. BLOGGING IS OUR “I”.

THOSE WHO SOLD THEIR SOULS SHOULD EXPECT THEIR DEATHS VERY SOON. AND I MEAN SOON. (THAT’S FIGURATIVE, FOOL!)